broken thermometer - big problem? little problem?

[fessoclown]

I broke a small cheap thermometer in my Brute mixing bin. I used a magnet to collect all the little mercury beads and got all the glass. I dumped the water and rinsed the bin. Do I need to worry about residual mercury and toss the Brute? I kinda don't (hope) think so but I thought I would check.
Thanks

 

[shifty51008]

As long as you cleaned the container real good after you should be fine to reuse it.

 

[fessoclown]

I just rinsed it really well.... I think it should be fine as the Brutes are potable and non absorbent .... I don't know. Surely many of us have broken these damn thermometers....

 

[billdogg]

Umm - fwiw - those little beads were not mercury. they were (probably)crappy iron of some sort, especially if they were attracted to a magnet. Rinse it and use it.

 

[hogfanreefer]

I didn't think mecury thermometers were still available?

 

[heathlindner25]

the last two posts were dead on...steel beads and they don't use mercury anymore. I broke one in a 40 breeder years ago and I still find the steel shot resting in my sand bed,I pull it out when I see it from time to time but I have not had any issues....hell,coral grow on sunken ships filled with iron.

 

[hogfanreefer]

the last two posts were dead on...steel beads and they don't use mercury anymore. I broke one in a 40 breeder years ago and I still find the steel shot resting in my sand bed,I pull it out when I see it from time to time but I have not had any issues....hell,coral grow on sunken ships filled with iron.

Of course. I was assuming what he removed was the working part of the thermometer but that's just a weight they use to keep the unit oriented when floating it.

What is the fluid? Just colored water?

 

[BrettDS]

I think it's usually alcohol

 

[fessoclown]

Thanks guys. The red stuff remained intact inside it's "tube" the metal balls were what escaped. My wife was dead sure that they were mercury ( I was pretty sure they weren't for the record. Thank for putting that all to rest...